Skip-numbering mechanism for printing presses or the like



Sept 22;, 1953 N. KATZ 2,652,772

SKIP-NUMBERING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES OR THE LIKE Filed May 27, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. NATHAN KA TZ.

A TTORNEY;

Sept. 22, 1953 K Z 2,652,772

SKIP-NUMBERING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES-OR THE LIKE Filed May 27, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 22, 1953 T 2,652,772

SKIP-NUMBERING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRES-SE8 OR THE LIKE Filed May 27, 1950 5 SheetsSheet 3 5 1 k g E 11 5178 g 5177 5176 5181 5150 5119 517a 5117 55176 1 5181 5 5150 g i g 1 1 2 X I x 51.7 5177 5176 5151 5150 5179 Patented Sept. 22, 1953 SKIP-NUMBERING MECHANISM FOR PRINT-,- ING PRESSES on .THE LIKE "Nathan Katz, New York, Y.

Application May 27, 1950,- Serial No. 164,802

9 Claims.

'This invention relates generally to numbering machines used in conjunction with cylinder type printing presses, and more particularly to an actuating device for the numbering machines which are operated by the to and fro movement of the bed of the printing press.

' According to this invention a pluralityof center' drive numbering machines are mounted upon the reciprocating bed of a cylinder'type printing press and'the actuatingsha-fts of such numbering machines are extended to oneside of the bed and terminate in radially extending. crank arms which .are connected .by a suitable rod. I An operating lever is' pivoted on the side of the bed and is pivotally connected by a link to the closest of the crank arms. -The operating lever is spring urged to the limit of itsmovement in one direction and is moved in the opposite direction for rotating the actuating shafts by contact with a suitable stop fixed on the frame of the press and disposed in the path of travel of the operating lever as the bed reaches the end of its travel durin'gthe printing of a sheet. 7

An object of this invention is to provide actuating means for numbering machinesof' the type having a central drive shaft which will effectively advance "the numerahwheels of the numbering ma'chineiin conjunction withthemotion of the bed 'o'f'th'eprinting press.

. Another object is to provide actuating ,means for central drive numbering machines mounted on the bed of a cylinder type printing press; which is simple 'in'structure,relatively inexpensive, sure in its operation and easily adapted 'to' the'various cylinder type presses .now' in 'existenc'e.

'A further object'is to" provide actuating means for central drive numbering machines which is r a cylinder type printing press and actuating means therefor which operate to advance the numeral wheels in response to selected ones of v the' horizontal movements of the press bed, so that a plurality of sheets willbe printed bearing identical numerals before the numbering ma chines are actuated to change theprinted numera'ls.

Other objects, features and advantages Ioffthe invention will appear in the 'followingdetailed 5 description of a preferred embodiment'thereof,

and'in the accompanying drawings illustrating the described embodiment.

In'the drawings:

Figure lis'a perspective view of the bed Of a cylinder type sheet "fed-printing press having center" drive numbering machines thereon and showing an actuating device for such numbering m'achines'constructed according to this invention;

"Figure '2 is'a'perspective view,-similar to "that of Figure l',-illustrating the position of the parts during movement of the actuating device'in' response to displacement of the printing press bed;

Figure '3 is a detaildtopplan view;'on an enlargedscale, of one of the numbering machines;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view ofoneof the numbering-machines takenalong line 4-4 of Figure 3; and

fFigures 5 and 6 are-each plan views-ofa pinrality of sheets printed by a cylinder-type printing press-"having numbering machines and actuatorstherefor-according to this invention, and showing the change 'in theprinted numerals -effect'edby movement of the actuating device.

Referring "tothe drawings, and initially 'to Figures" Band "6 thereof," 'groupings of sheets are there illustrated; upon which the printed numerals havebeenformed 'by an apparatu constructed'in accordance 'with this invention. In Figure -5, three sheets 10; l land 42,- are'illustrated; each having identical "numerals" placed thereon. "It 'isdesirable' to prints'heets such "as illustratedini igure '5for the purpose of binding them into a book *oi'receipts or the "like, so that Whensuch're'ceipt books are in'use sheet 12 may be "detached and given to the customer; as his receipt, sheet H may be "secured to the article identified bylthe numeral, and sheet 10. may be retained inthe book as a permanent record of the transaction. In'"Figure 16 a,secon'd grouping of sheets .10, II, and I2 is illustrated, a'ndit w 'ill benot'ed, that the numerals .placed on these sheets while being identical with each'other, are each three numeralslower than those appearing in'the respective columns of sheets I0, I! andJZ. Sheets 12.0., Tiand f2 will 'form the leaf 'of the receipt book disposed above that leaf .formedl'by sheets "'flL'fH and 'ZI'Z. The apparatus to'be described'he'reinafter-is provided for automatically printing numerals .upon fisheets such as those showninFigures E: and 6. fThat' is, theapparatus formingan attachment 'fora cylinder type sheet fed printing press, will .print. identical numerals upon three successive sheet fed through the printing press, and then will automatically actuate the numbering machine containing the numeral dies, in order to change the numerals by a desired amount for the next three successive sheets.

In Figures 1 and 2, a type bed l3 of a cylinder type sheet fed printing press is illustrated. The bed I3 is reciprocated in a horizontal plane by mechanism forming a part of the printing press itself, which mechanism is not illustrated since it is well known in the art, and of itself forms no part of this invention. Bed I3 is provided with a flat bottom l4, and upstanding walls l5 and I6 extending along the opposite side edges thereof. Parallel spaced apart shafts l1, l8 and I9 extend transversely across the bed l3, at right angles to the direction of the reciprocation of the latter, and are rotatably journalled, at'their opposite ends, in the side walls l5 and I6. Crank arms 25, 2| and 22 are fixed upon the ends of the shafts l1, l8 and I9, respectively, which extend through side walls l6 of the bed l3. An elongated connecting rod 23 is pivotally connected, by pin 24, to the free ends of each of the crank arms, 20, 2| and 22, so that these crank arms and the respective shafts will rock together. An operating lever 25 is pivoted intermediate its ends upon pivot member 26 which is fixedly carried by side Walls i6 of the bed adjacent one end of the latter. Operating lever 25 is formed with a hooked portion 21 on one end, and with a laterally extending foot 28 on the other end. Bushings are fixed within lever 25 on opposite sides of its pivot 26. A connecting link 3| is pivoted at one end to crank arm 25 by pin 32, and is pivoted at its other end to lever 25, by pin 33 extending into bushing 29.

In Figure 1 bed i3 is shown in its extreme position of movement to the left, while in Figure 2, bed I3 is shown in its extreme right hand position. A block 34 is fixed to a portion F, shown in broken lines in Figures 1 and 2, of the frame of the printing press. A laterally extending pin 35 is fixedly carried by block 34, and extend into the path of travel of the hooked portion 21 of lever 25, when the latter is moved horizontally with bed I3. An apertured hanger 35 depends from the bottom of bed l3, and a rod 31 has one of its ends extending slidably through hanger 36. The other end of rod 31 is threaded into block 38 which is pivoted upon foot 28 of lever 25 by a pin 39. A collar 4!) is threaded upon rod 31, and a coiled spring 4| is disposed about rod 31 and has its opposite ends abutting against collar 40 and hanger 35. A cotter pin 42 extends through the end of rod 31, and prevents removal of the rod from hanger 36. From the drawing, it is apparent that spring 4| constantly urges rod 31, and block 33 to the left, as viewed in Figures 1 and 2, to thereby constantly urge lever 25 to rotate in a clock-wise direction to the position shown in Figurel.

When bed l3 approaches the limit of it movement in the right hand direction, pin 35 will engage hook portion 21 of lever 25, and the final movement of the bed |3 towards the right will efiect rotation of lever 25 in a counter-clockwise direction against the force of spring and to the position illustrated in Figure 2. Such rotation of operating lever 25 will effect similar rocking of crank arm 20, 2| and 22 by reason of the connection afforded by connecting link 3| and connecting rod 23. Shafts l1, l8 and |9 will then be caused to rock, or oscillate, in response to each reciprocation of bed l3. If it is desired to reverse the direction of rocking of shafts I8 and l9, in response to engagement of pin 35 with hook portion 2'! of layer 25, the end of connecting link 3| may be pivotally connected to the lever 25 on the opposite side of its pivot 26 by extending the pivot pin 33, carried by connecting link 3| through bushing 30, rather than through bushing 29.

A plurality of center drive numbering machines, generally indicated by numeral 43, and being of well known construction, are disposed upon each of shafts l1, l8 and I9, and the respective numbering machines 43 are positioned along the associated shafts by cylindrical spacers 44, '45 and 46.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, the details of the connection between the shafts l1, l8 and I9 and the numbering machines mounted thereon are illustrated. In these views the details of the connection of one of the numbering machines 43 are shown, and it is to be understood that each of the other numbering machines are similarly associated with their respective shafts. Each numbering machine 43 is formed of a substantially U-shaped frame member 41 having a base 48 and opposite upstanding side walls 49 and 5D. A tubular member 5| is fixed between side walls 49 and 50 or the frame, and rotatably receives shaft H. The base 48 of the frame rests upon bottom M. of the bed l3, and prevents rotation of frame 41 with shaft H. A pluralit of numeral bearing wheels 52 are rotatable upon tubular member 5|, and a ratchet wheel 53 is fixed to each of the numeral bearing wheels 52. The numeral bearing wheels 52 are rotatable independently of each other. Spaced apart spring urged pawls 54 are pivoted upon transverse pin 55, and engage against ratchet wheels 53 to prevent reverse rotation of the numeral bearing wheels, and to retain the wheels in their set position. Radially extending arms 56 and 51 disposed inwardly of the side walls 58 and 49 respectively, are pivoted upon tubular member 5|. Set screws 58 and 59, carried by radial arms 56 and 51, respectively, extend through radial slots 65 formed in tubular member. 5|, and engage in the longitudinal keyway 5| formed in shaft so that arms 56 and 51 wil1 swing with the oscillations of shaft H. A member 62 is pivoted between theouter ends of arms 53 and 51, and is formed with, dogs '63 adapted to extend between the numeral bearing wheels 52 for engagement with the ratchet wheels 53. When the dogs 63 engage theirrespective ratchet wheels 53, and shaft I1 is oscillated, then the numeral bearing wheels will be selectively displaced. As is commonin numbering machines, the dogs engaging the several ratchet wheels53 are of varying lengths, so that certain of the dogs may only engage the associated ratchet wheel when the other of the ratchet wheels are in a predetermined position. That is, the dogs 63 are so arranged that the wheel printing the last numeral, of the number being printed, will turn through a full rotation, before the second wheel will be rotated a single numeral.

In order toprevent changing of the printed.

numerals with each oscillation of shaft so that three sheets may be printed with the same number before a change in the numbering machine is effected, a ratchet wheel 64 is rotatably carried by tubular member 5| adjacent radial arm 51. As seen in Figure 4, ratchet wheel 64 is provided with a plurality of outwardly open-. ing relatively deep recesses. 65, which are spaced uniformly about: its circumference. Pivoted member 62 carries a dog 56 at one end for engagement with the periphery of ratchet wheel 64, and when dog 66 is engaged with the normal notches in the periphery of that Wheel, the other dogs 63 are moved out of engagement with their respective ratchet wheels 53. Only when dog 66 is received by one of the notches or recesses B5, are the dogs 63 permitted to move into engagement with their respective ratchet wheels. Therefore, the dogs 63 will be inoperative to effect rotation of the numeral bearing wheels 52 for twosuccessive oscillations of shaft IT, and only on the third oscillation of the shaft will this movement be imparted to the numeral bearing wheels.

From the foregoing detail description of a preferred embodiment of this invention, it is apparent that I have provided an attachment for a cylinder type sheet fed printing press which is capable of printing numerals upon sheets for forming receipt books or the like, which sheets conform to those shown in Figures and 6.

Having thus described and illustrated a detailed embodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that changes and modifications thereof, obvious to one skilled in the art, may be effected without departing from the'scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

'1. In combination with a cylinder type sheet fed printing press having a frarne'and a horizontally reciprocated type bed; at least one center drive numbering machine fixed on said bed with its axis extending transversely relative to the direction of movement of said bed, a transversely extending shaft operatively connected to said numbering machine and rockably extending through a side wall of said bed, a crank arm fixed on said shaft at the outside of said side wall of said bed, an operating lever pivoted intermediate its ends to said side wall of said bed and swinging in a vertical plane parallel to the direction of movement of said bed, an operating link pivotally connected at its opposite ends to one end of said lever and to said crank arm, and an actuating pin fixed on said frame in the path of travel of the other end of said lever and engaging against said other end of said lever when said bed approaches the limit of its movement in one direction for rocking said lever relative to said bed during the final movement of the latter in said one direction whereby said shaft is rocked to effect rotation of the numbering wheels of said numbering machine.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1, including resilient means connected to said operating lever constantly urging the latter to rock in the direction opposite to the rocking effected by engagement of said pin with said other end of said lever whereby said shaft will be oscillated through a full cycle during each oscillation of said bed.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2, wherein said numbering machine includes a pair of spaced radial arms fixed to said shaft, a plurality of independently rotatable numeral wheels disposed between said arms, a ratchet wheel fixed to each of said numeral wheels, a member pivoted between said arms and formed with a plurality of dogs adapted to engage said ratchet wheels, a rotatable ratchet wheel formed with a plurality of angularly spaced outwardly opening recesses, and a dog on said member engaging the last mentioned ratchet wheel for rotating the latter in response to rocking of said shaft and normally holding said first mentioned dogs out of engagement with said ratchet wheels on said numeral wheels, said first mentioned dogs mov-' ing an apertured hanger depending from said.

bed, a rod pivoted'at one end to said one end of said operating lever, the other end of said rod extending slidably through said apertured hanger, a collar threaded on said rod, and a coil spring on saidrod abutting at its opposite ends against said collar and said hanger and resiliently urging.

said'lever to rock in the direction opposite to the rocking effected by engagement of said pin with said other end of said lever.

5. In combination with a cylinder type sheet fed printing press including a frame and a linearly reciprocated type bed carried by said frame; at least one transversely extending shaft rockably carried by said bed and extending through a sidewall of the latter; acrank arm fixed to said shaft at the outside of said bed; an operating lever pivoted intermediate its ends on said one side of said bed; an operating link pivotally con nected at its opposite ends to one end of said lever and to said crank arm; resilient means constantly urging said lever to rotate in one direction; an actuating pin fixed on said frame in the path of travel of the other end of said lever and engaging against said other end of said lever when said bed approaches the limit of its movement in one direction and rocking said lever in the direction opposed to the urging of said resilient means during the final movement of said bed in said one direction of the latter; at least one center drive numbering machine on said bed axially receiving said shaft; said numbering machine including a plurality of independently r0- tatable numeral wheels and operating means operatively connected to said shaft for selectively advancing said wheels; and means actuated by said shaft rendering said operating means inoperative during predetermined oscillations of said shaft whereby said numeral wheels will be advanced in response to selected reciprocations of said bed.

6. In combination with a cylinder type sheet fed printing press including a frame and a linearly reciprocated type bed carried by said frame; a plurality of transversely extending parallel spaced apart shafts rockably carried by said bed and extending through a side wall of the latter; a crank arm fixed to each of said shafts at the outside of said bed; an operating lever pivoted intermediate its ends on the side wall of said bed through which said shafts extend; a connecting rod pivotally connected to the free ends of said crank arms; an operating link pivotally connected at its opposite ends to one end of said lever and to the crank arm on the adjacent end i of one of said shafts; resilient means constantly urging said lever to rotate in one direction; an actuating pin fixed on said frame in the path of travel of the other end of said lever and engaging against said other end when said bed approaches the limit of its movement in one direction and rocking said lever in the direction opposed to the urging of said resilient means during the final movement of said bed in said one direction :of the latter; a lurality of numbering machines axially receiving each of said shafts; each of said numbering machines including a plurality of independently rotatable numeral wheels and operating means operatively eonnected'to the associated shaft for selectively advancing said wheels, and means actuated by the associated shaft rendering :said operating means inoperative during predetermined oscillations of the shaft whereby said numeral wheels are advanced only in response to predetermined reciprocations of said bed.

'1. The combination set forth in claim 6, wherein said resilient means includes an apertured hanger depending from said bed, a rod pivoted at one end to said one end of said operating lever, the other endo'f said rod extending slidably through said han'ge'r, a collar threaded on said rod, and a coil spring on said rod abutting at its opposite ends against said collar and said hanger.

combination "as set forth in claim 6, wherein said operating means includes a pair of radial arms fixed to the associated shaft, a ratchet wheel fixed on each of said numeral Wheelsand amember'zpivoted between said pair of radial arms having dogs thereon spring urged toward said ratchet wheels for selectively rotating :said numeral wheels in response to oscillation of said shaft.

9. The combination as set forth in claim 8,

wherein said means actuated by the associated shaft rendering said operating means inoperative during predetermined oscillations of the shaft includes a ratchet member rotatable concentrically to said shaft, a dog on said pivoted member engaging the periphery of said last mentioned ratchet member and normally holding said first mentioned dogs away from said ratchet wheels on said numeral wheels, and outwardly opening recesses formed in said last mentioned ratchet member intermittently receiving said last mentioned dog to thereby ermit inward movement of said pivoted member for engagement of the dogs thereon with the ratchet wheels on said numeral wheels.

NATHAN KATZ.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

